Friday, October 12, 2012

Gershon Does Gershwin

Moog synth versions of Gershwin classics sounds like a pretty goofy excuse for an album, especially considering that album title, and the ludicrous cover art of George G. looking like an ABA player with that gi-normous 'fro. But this 1970 release is actually really good, reworking those tired old songs like "Summertime" with unexpectedly fresh, Space-Age arrangements. (Gershon Kingsley would write an oft-covered standard himself, "Popcorn.") Bob Moog even stated in an interview that he thought that this was one of the best Moog-sploitation albums of that period, and I would agree - especially side two's "Porgy & Bess" medley (Proggy & Bess?). Kinsgley clearly learned a thing or two about using sound effects in novel musical ways from his old partner, tape-loop wiz Jean-Jacques Perrey, when they were the duo that practically invented electro-pop with their groundbreaking 1966 classic "The 'In' Sound From Way Out." On this album, Kinsgley is joined on some cuts by pianist Leonid Hambro.Gershon Kingsley & Leonid Hambro: "Gershwin: Alive & Well & Underground"

Ha ha, well, you certainly live up to your name as well, you're a pal, thx. And Gershon did some cool post-Perrey stuff. his First Moog Quartet were a pre-Kraftwerk live band that made a couple of bitchin' albums.